Union County at a Glance

Agricultural Producers

N/A

Top Commodities

N/A

USDA Payments

$12.1M

Subsidy Recipients

208

Land Value?

N/A

Cropland Rent?

N/A

22 USDA programs currently accepting applications. Find programs for your farm →

208 farmers in Union County received $12.1M in 2024

Average payment: $58,351 per recipient

Program Breakdown — Union County

Union County, Iowa received $12.1M in total farm subsidies (2024).

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) $1.7M

Disaster Payments $165,193

Crop Insurance Subsidies $5.1M

Total $12.1M

Top Recipients — Union County (208 total)

Businesses shown by full name; individuals shown by initials (FOIA/EWG data).

1. J H D Downing Inc — Creston, IA 50801

$49,757

2. M.L.M. — Afton, IA 50830

$48,140

3. Murray Shade-murray L Shade Revocable Trust — Creston, IA 50801

$47,735

4. Lorin J Eilers Revocable Trust — Creston, IA 50801

$45,851

5. R Michael And Carol L Brentnall Revocable Trust — Creston, IA 50801

$45,813

6. Sharron E Martin Trust — Ellston, IA 50074

$43,287

7. Robert W Martin Trust — Ellston, IA 50074

$42,325

8. C.D.T. — Creston, IA 50801

$41,799

9. M.L.T. — Afton, IA 50830

$41,772

10. K.L.D. — Creston, IA 50801

$39,053

11. Hellickson Land LLC — Afton, IA 50830

$37,503

12. The Esther Morrow Slaman Irrevocable Trust — Kissimmee, FL 34746

$36,850

13. Maxwell Family Farms, LLC — Urbandale, IA 50322

$32,618

14. R.E.M. — Creston, IA 50801

$31,626

15. M.D.S. — Afton, IA 50830

$28,155

16. Jean L Ide Trust — Creston, IA 50801

$25,278

17. G.M.C. — Afton, IA 50830

$24,909

18. H.D.J. — Afton, IA 50830

$24,877

19. J.F.P.P. — Atlantic, IA 50022

$24,671

20. Jone R Snyder Trust — Creston, IA 50801

$24,444

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How to Apply — Open Programs

These USDA programs are currently accepting applications. Visit your local NRCS/FSA office to get started.

ARC-CO (Agriculture Risk Coverage — County) FSA

Provides revenue loss protection when actual county crop revenue drops below a benchmark. Payment is automatic once enrolled — no claim needed.

Value: $8–$75/acre depending on crop and county revenue shortfall

Complexity: Low — sign election at FSA, 15 minutes

Where: Your local FSA office

Bring:

Photo ID
FSA farm number (FSA will have it on file)

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

PLC (Price Loss Coverage) FSA

Provides price protection when the national average price for a covered commodity drops below its reference price. Pays on base acres, not planted acres.

Value: $0–$125+/acre depending on how far price drops below reference

Complexity: Low — sign election at FSA, 15 minutes

Where: Your local FSA office

Bring:

Photo ID
FSA farm number

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

CRP (Conservation Reserve Program) FSA

Annual rental payments for removing environmentally sensitive land from production and planting conservation cover (grass, trees, buffers). 10-15 year contracts.

Value: $50–$300+/acre/year depending on soil rental rate in your county

Complexity: Medium — FSA evaluates your offer using Environmental Benefits Index

Where: Your local FSA office

Bring:

Photo ID
FSA farm number
Deed or lease for the land
Cropping history (last 6 years)

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) NRCS

Cost-share payments (typically 50-75%) for conservation practices: cover crops, fencing, water systems, nutrient management, erosion control, and more.

Value: Cost-share typically 50-75% of practice cost (90% for beginning farmers). Payment limits removed for FY2025.

Complexity: Low to apply (2-page form), then NRCS develops conservation plan with you

Where: Your local NRCS office

Bring:

Photo ID
Deed or lease
Description of conservation concerns

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program) NRCS

Annual payments for maintaining and improving existing conservation practices. If you're already doing cover crops, no-till, or rotational grazing — you may already qualify.

Value: $4,000–$40,000+/year depending on acres and practices (minimum raised from $1,500 to $4,000 in FY2024)

Complexity: Medium — NRCS evaluates your existing conservation and scores it

Where: Your local NRCS office

Bring:

Photo ID
Deed or lease
Description of current conservation practices

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

Federal Crop Insurance RMA

Government-subsidized crop insurance. The government pays ~60% of your premium. Protects against yield loss, revenue loss, or both.

Value: Premium subsidy saves $5–$30+/acre; coverage at 50-85% of expected revenue

Complexity: Low-Medium — agent handles paperwork, you choose coverage level

Where: Through a private crop insurance agent (not FSA/NRCS)

Bring:

Production records (yield history)
Acreage information
FSA farm/tract numbers

Program Details · Fact Sheet (PDF)

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Farmer Success Stories — Iowa

Real farmers in Iowa share how USDA programs helped their operations.

NRCS · Jun 06, 2025

Fridays on the Farm: Improving Energy Efficiency in Iowa

Data Sources

Subsidy Payments: EWG Farm Subsidy Database (2024 USDA FOIA data)
Program Details: USDA Service Center Locator

All data is from public federal sources. Updated periodically — verify current details at your local USDA office.

Program information sourced from USDA. Eligibility described here is general guidance only. Confirm at your local FSA or NRCS office. FarmGrant is not affiliated with USDA.

USDA Subsidy Payments in Union County, Iowa

Find Programs for Your Farm

Data Sources